Honestly he's done good things for the club, but all I hear these days is friction, stubbornness, no willingness to accept input from players. That and our forward rotation policy and regression of some of our forwards and I'd like a change.

Our scrum woes have more been due to all our props being long term injured. Lockwood, and Both Wilsons simply haven't played...and Welsh and Vickers have had to play far more than they probably should have.

But with mavinga being eased in, and young Benjamin showing up well , the two lads work load can be eased a bit.

Rumours in the Scottish thread are that Finn Russell is off. Montpellier was rumoured earlier and now Racing. Looks like France unless an English club (personally I would think Sale or Wasps would be interested) break the piggy bank (salary apparently starting near Hogg's £450k).

Hazel Sapling wrote:Rumours in the Scottish thread are that Finn Russell is off. Montpellier was rumoured earlier and now Racing. Looks like France unless an English club (personally I would think Sale or Wasps would be interested) break the piggy bank (salary apparently starting near Hogg's £450k).

Given the current state of Sale I'm not sure they'll be paying big on another flyhalf, they do have O'Connor when he's eventually fit. I'd expect them to be targeting some big aggressive tight five options. They've upgraded their backrow and now just need to finish the pack off.

Wasps have Gopperth and Cipriani so that's a good chunk of salary cap. Russell would be a good fit for them though. Newcastle might be tempted if Flood doesn't get fit and playing anytime soon.

stnick88 wrote:I actually think Yarde was better at Irish than he has been at Quins.

Any rumours as to where he is off to? Wouldn't surprise me if it was Bath.

This rumours comes up every year and i'm not sure why really. Guess it is the Irish link? Can't understand why we'd be in for him though, with Roko and Banners set on the wings, with Brew, Wilson, Williams in reserve and Watson able to cover, we aren't really short right now. Possible that Wilson and Williams won't be at the club next year and I guess Yarde offers something a bit different to Banners/Roko, but i'm not convinced he's good value.

Im not sure how it works with contracts.....one assumes that Yardes new contract wherever it may be wont be much of an improvement on what he is on at Quins as his career hasn't had that meteoric rise that was hinted at when he first broke onto the international stage. With less international appearances he may well be 'better value' now than when he first moved.

I don't know what Yarde is on now, but I do know that when he went to Quins, he went for less money than he was offered to stay at Irish, and we were/are not paying big wages, so I would suggest that actually he is potentially going to be good value for money for somebody.

Ozzy3213 wrote:I don't know what Yarde is on now, but I do know that when he went to Quins, he went for less money than he was offered to stay at Irish, and we were/are not paying big wages, so I would suggest that actually he is potentially going to be good value for money for somebody.

OK, thanks Ozzy - thought we really broke the bank to get him.....perhaps I do him a disservice then! And he has been better value than I gave him credit for.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Rumours in the Scottish thread are that Finn Russell is off. Montpellier was rumoured earlier and now Racing. Looks like France unless an English club (personally I would think Sale or Wasps would be interested) break the piggy bank (salary apparently starting near Hogg's £450k).

Given the current state of Sale I'm not sure they'll be paying big on another flyhalf, they do have O'Connor when he's eventually fit. I'd expect them to be targeting some big aggressive tight five options. They've upgraded their backrow and now just need to finish the pack off.

Wasps have Gopperth and Cipriani so that's a good chunk of salary cap. Russell would be a good fit for them though. Newcastle might be tempted if Flood doesn't get fit and playing anytime soon.

Gopperth is 34 and Cips is 30 this season. Don't know when their contracts expire but Russell is an upgrade on Cips and Gopperth is in the twilight years hence my thinking.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Rumours in the Scottish thread are that Finn Russell is off. Montpellier was rumoured earlier and now Racing. Looks like France unless an English club (personally I would think Sale or Wasps would be interested) break the piggy bank (salary apparently starting near Hogg's £450k).

Given the current state of Sale I'm not sure they'll be paying big on another flyhalf, they do have O'Connor when he's eventually fit. I'd expect them to be targeting some big aggressive tight five options. They've upgraded their backrow and now just need to finish the pack off.

Wasps have Gopperth and Cipriani so that's a good chunk of salary cap. Russell would be a good fit for them though. Newcastle might be tempted if Flood doesn't get fit and playing anytime soon.

Gopperth is 34 and Cips is 30 this season. Don't know when their contracts expire but Russell is an upgrade on Cips and Gopperth is in the twilight years hence my thinking.

As for Sale, completely forgot about JOC.

I think Cipriani signed a three year deal when he rejoined Wasps so he has a year left. Gopperth signed a new deal last season so presume he's got a year after this. Russell would be a step up but given Cips is rumoured to be on 450k a year and Gopperth won't be cheap either so signing another flyhalf on 400k+ will be a big old chunk of budget. They'd have to find a way to offload one if Russell was coming. Cips is the local boy and the younger so unlikely they'll ditch him over Gopperth but the options of Cips and Russell isn't massively reliable.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Rumours in the Scottish thread are that Finn Russell is off. Montpellier was rumoured earlier and now Racing. Looks like France unless an English club (personally I would think Sale or Wasps would be interested) break the piggy bank (salary apparently starting near Hogg's £450k).

Given the current state of Sale I'm not sure they'll be paying big on another flyhalf, they do have O'Connor when he's eventually fit. I'd expect them to be targeting some big aggressive tight five options. They've upgraded their backrow and now just need to finish the pack off.

Wasps have Gopperth and Cipriani so that's a good chunk of salary cap. Russell would be a good fit for them though. Newcastle might be tempted if Flood doesn't get fit and playing anytime soon.

Gopperth is 34 and Cips is 30 this season. Don't know when their contracts expire but Russell is an upgrade on Cips and Gopperth is in the twilight years hence my thinking.

As for Sale, completely forgot about JOC.

I think Cipriani signed a three year deal when he rejoined Wasps so he has a year left. Gopperth signed a new deal last season so presume he's got a year after this. Russell would be a step up but given Cips is rumoured to be on 450k a year and Gopperth won't be cheap either so signing another flyhalf on 400k+ will be a big old chunk of budget. They'd have to find a way to offload one if Russell was coming. Cips is the local boy and the younger so unlikely they'll ditch him over Gopperth but the options of Cips and Russell isn't massively reliable.

I can't see them losing Cipriani to get Russell - what would be the point. It would be a drop in level. Gopperth is getting older and will need replacing but I would think they would like a like for like which Russell certainly is not.

32 year old hooker psst his prime. It's not like we've got two young talented players behind Youngs pushing for a starting place and have recently acquired a former Scottish age grade hooker that's getting game time with Loughborough Uni.

32 isn't past it, really he should be in his prime as a front row player but when I've seen him play over the last couple of years he hasn't been at his best. Previously he was a rampaging bull of a hooker, almost like having another number 8 when he carried. That dynamism seems to have faded and he's nowhere close to his international level best anymore.

Thacker has played very well this season, he certainly had no trouble in helping Cole and Genge demolish the Saints front row. Hartley made no impact on him whatsoever. Around the field he is one of our best carriers because of his low centre of gravity footwork. Against Racing in Nottingham a couple of years ago he was fantastic and their pack was definitely massive. Tom Youngs has a lot on his plate but he's finding rugby as his release and is playing well, last season his emotions for to him this season he is channelling them and it's the best he's been in a couple of years.

Unless Thacker has a serious injury I'd prefer to use the lads we have. Kerr should be given a go in the LV, he's billed as a physical hooker so let's invest in him and reap the long term rewards. We have a potential conveyorbelt of talent let's get it moving.

I think Tom's performances have improved as our game plan has changed. As our game plan has become more direct, physical and reliant on hard work he's looked better. Whether or not his outlook on playing will change is all hypothetical. If he needs some down time we have two perfectly good backups and a short term loan of a hooker would not present too much of a problem. Signing a player past his best who may get in the way of our younger hookers game time and who is unlikely to have any real future a the club isn't deal in my view.

We may be out of the loop re Tiffany Youngs (there's no reason to keep us in it) so there might be an immediate concern there, I don't want to speculate further. I just prefer to see us develop what we have than risk losing out on home grown talents later down the line like Lewington for instance.

After JJ there is a bit of a vacancy at 13, with Teo playing more at 12, Tuilagi not in the picture and Daly seen as a back 3 player

Marchant at Quins is a real prospect. Slade did impress on the tour to Argentina outside Ford and Francis.

Will Exeter be ditching a centre if Lozowski joins and Steenson doesn't retire? Hill, Slade, Devoto, Campagnaro and Whitten are a lot of options when Lozowski can play 12 as well. I'd take Hill at Tigers.

Will be on a decent amount, non EQP and will be away during the internationals.

Loz, Devoto and Slade have england shouts imo.

Campagnaro does offer something different to the other centres. Slade and Devoto are robust playmakers whilst Hill and Whitten are more physical and direct. Campagnaro offers more pace, an outside break and finishing ability. He also spends the most time on the treatment table.

nathan wrote:Tevita Kuridrani to....... Somewhere, will know tomorrow but at a guess... Injury cover for Manu?

That would give us some serious midfield go forward but I can't see it. Owen did pretty well on his debut and Smith has been in very good form so I'm not sure they'll be that keen to blow the remaining injury cover just yet. Might need it later in the season.

Doubt that will happen he signed a long term contract with ARU a month ago despite Toulon offering him alot so he clearly wants to play for aus in the world cup. the only thing i can think he might do is a short term signing somewhere for top up money but nothing long term.

Doubt that will happen he signed a long term contract with ARU a month ago despite Toulon offering him alot so he clearly wants to play for aus in the world cup. the only thing i can think he might do is a short term signing somewhere for top up money but nothing long term.

Chris Kuridrani has been linked with Sale.

Did you get this rumour off RugbyInsideLine BTW?

yeah, the most unreliable place in the world.

He has 6 more games before he hits the 60 test mark and can play outside the country and still be elidable